Category: Home Automation

It’s arrived! This September (2018), HomeSeer introduced their new HS-FC200+ in-wall Z-Wave fan controller – and I finally got my hands on one. The HS-FC200+ supports multi-tap functionality as well as HomeSeer’s novel capability to control the on/off state and RGB capabilities of the LED indicators. Altogether, this makes the HS-FC200+ a nice complement to […]

Introducing the DarwinsDen.com Demand Manager Smart App for SmartThings. This smart app is designed for those wishing to save money on their electric bill with utility companies that levy demand charges, or for those wishing to reduce their environmental footprint by reducing peak electric demand loads. The app will continuously monitor your home’s electric usage […]

Updated for 2018 “All generalizations are false, including this one.” – Mark Twain Whether you call these devices controllers, smart home hubs, bridges, or gateways, user requirements are unique, and with the possible exception of tube socks, there is no single one-size fits all product for everyone. That said, this article examines a wide variety […]

Updated for 2018 Originally Published: 3 February 2016 Door and window sensors rank perhaps right up there with security cameras when most us think about critical features of home security systems. These sensors let your home automation controller know when a door or window is open or closed in order to trigger […]

Light switches might be the first thing that pops into most people’s mind when they consider automating their home. Controlling my lights is one task that I am certainly willing to delegate to a smart assistant to automate scheduled events, respond to activities in my house, and even support my verbal […]

Updated for 2018 One of the best approaches to achieve a low cost and well-integrated home automation environment is to focus on a system that centers around a single smart home controller and multiple less intelligent, and therefore less expensive devices. Home automation has been around for longer than you probably realise. For example, automatic […]

Updated for 2018 It’s happened several times to me, in several homes – the dreaded water leak. I’ve had to repair the wall and flooring behind a water heater that burst at the seams, and had cabinet and flooring damage following a slower, but possibly more insidious kitchen pipe leak. Aside from the obvious damage […]

HS-WD200+ Z-Wave In-Wall Switch/Dimmer by HomeSeer Price: HS-WD200+ Z-Wave In-Wall Switch/Dimmer by HomeSeer Price: Opportunities abound for smart switch innovation – considering their convenient location options in every home and easy access to power. I’m not sure why other companies have failed to give these comparatively simple devices the full attention they deserve, but HomeSeer […]

Following is a preliminary review based on a week of operation of the Wink Hub 2 home automation hub, by Flextronics. This device sports several impressive features and I wanted to get the information I have to date posted. I will continue to update and add to this review as I put this device through […]

Originally posted: 24 January 2016 Update: 28-September-2016: Almond+ by Securifi Price: $151.69 Securifi has recently updated the Almond+ firmware and cloud server to address the most critical feature deficiencies that I noted in my January review. Of particular note, Securifi has added limited IFTTT support and sunrise/sunset rule capability. I’ve updated our Almond+ hardware to […]

Originally posted: 19 June, 2016 At roughly the size of a nail file, the Strips door and window sensor is an innovative 3mm thin Z-Wave Plus sensor developed by a small team at Sensative, a start-up out of Lund, Sweden. I have been watching the progress of the sensor on Indiegogo for a while now […]

ZW056 Z-Wave Doorbell by Aeon Labs Price: $50 This is a review of the Aeon Labs Aeotec ZW056 Z-Wave Plus Gen5 Doorbell. I received an initial production release of this new device back in November and wanted to get this initial review out there to provide an overview of my early findings and also as […]

SmartThings Hub by Samsung Price: $90 At the risk of adding to the already extensive noise on the very capable Samsung V2 SmartThings Hub, following is a brief high-level overview of this device and specifics as to why it is currently on Darwin’s Den’s Best Home Automation Controllers List and the top pick on the […]

I think you can officially call it an obsession now for me. I’ve been suggesting a smart doorbell sensor for awhile now in the Must Have Home Automation Devices page as a means to receive phone notifications and trigger other actions when your doorbell is rung, but I keep running into issues finding the perfect […]

I received a request to develop a SmartThings Device Handler for the Nexia NX1000 One Touch Z-Wave Control, and frankly was a little intrigued. I had heard of the device, but I had my doubts regarding how well it would work with the SmartThings Hub. I had never written a device handler that was capable […]

DB100Z Z-Wave Doorbell Sensor by Nexia Price: $45 For anyone that may have followed my adventures in the Aeon Labs Aeotec ZW056 doorbell post, I’ve been recommending a smart doorbell sensor for awhile in the Must Have Home Automation Devices page, as a means to receive phone notifications and trigger other actions when your doorbell […]

I recently reviewed the Aeon Labs Zw056 Aeotec Doorbell (see the full review here) which is actually two devices: 1) A doorbell button assembly and 2) An AC outlet powered Z-Wave siren/speaker. While I’m not currently using this device as a doorbell, I’ve been very pleased with the speaker’s ability to generically play custom MP3 […]

The smoke alarm is credited with being one of the greatest success stories in the history of fire safety. While well maintained conventional smoke detectors are extremely effective in saving the lives of occupants, they are all but worthless if no one is at home to hear them. Every time I see smoke or a […]

GD00Z-2 Z-Wave Garage Door Opener by Linear Price: $95 Although a smart Z-Wave garage door opener did not make the must-have category in DarwinsDen.com Must Have Home Automation Devices post, it can nevertheless be a nice addition to a well equipped automated home. I am quite pleased with the performance of Linear’s UL listed GD00Z […]

“It is only when they go wrong that machines remind you how powerful they are.” – Clive James Whether you call it home automation, connected home, or (cringe) internet of things, automated homes are becoming increasingly prevalent, and will soon become the norm as major players like Apple, Google, Amazon, and Samsung enter the market. […]